Antique European Filigree: Some Silver Filigree Caskets, Batavia?

Post in preparation.

It is still unclear to me how to identify Silver and Silver Gilt Filigree Objects made in Batavia, Java and other Indonesian towns.

The group of 7 objects below show obvious Chinese influence but the style of the filigree differs from the more formal filigree used in the objects illustrated in my previous post.

https://antiqueeuropeanfiligree.blogspot.com/2023/09/chinese-jewelled-silver-and-silver-gilt.html

It is my current theory that this style of filigree illustrated below has its origins in Europe - probably imported by the Dutch using Chinese craftsmen under the supervision of Dutch masters.

In my recent post https://antiqueeuropeanfiligree.blogspot.com/2023/09/silver-filigree-rosewater-sprinklers.html I have attempted to illustrate the differences in Indian filigree used in the manufacture of Gulab pash (rosewater Sprinklers made in Cuttack and Karimnager and Chinese Filigree.

In my previous post I have illustrated several pieces of Silver Gilt and Silver Filigree which I believe were manufactured in Holland - https://antiqueeuropeanfiligree.blogspot.com/2023/01/spectacular-and-large-silver-gilt.html

Silver Filigree and Batavia, Java.

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An object displaying both European and Chinese influences.

The Lawrence's Auction House Silver Filigree Casket.

Batavia, Java.

Width 6 inches.

Sold Lot 357, October 2022.

https://auctionet.com/en/events/421-autumn-fine-art-sales-october-2022/357-a-19th-century-chinese-filigree-work-casket

I'm not sure what to make of this object. The panels are obviously Chinese in style but the filigree work is very loose in comparison with that on Chinese objects illustrated in my post on Chinese Filigree.

Was it made in Batavia, Java, Indonesia using Chinese Elements?

Was it made in Holland using Chinese Elements?

Or is it Chinese?

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Batavia and Chinese Settlers.

https://scholarhub.ui.ac.id/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1190&context=wacana

https://www.persee.fr/doc/arch_0044-8613_2009_num_77_1_4127

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Height: 4.5cm, diameter: 10.3m,

https://www.michaelbackmanltd.com/object/silver-lotus-form-filigree-box-cover/

Description below from the website of Michael Backman.

Possibly made in the Dutch East Indies, probably Batavia, by local Chinese silversmiths, or in China, the box retains traditional Chinese characteristics – the lotus form, and the two four-clawed dragons chasing a central flaming pearl on the cover surrounded by an outer panel containing the eight precious emblems in relief. It sits on a low octagonal foot engraved that includes a zig-zag filigree border often seen on filigree work associated with the Dutch East Indies, along with a repeated key-fret border.

An almost identical box, almost certainly made by the same hand, is in the Museum of East Asian Art, Bath, UK. The Museum’s box is illustrated in Museum of East Asian Art (1993, p. 114). Described as Quing Dynasty late 18th Early 129th Century. (below).

The museum was contacted October 2023 but they were unable to provide any further photographs and were unwilling to retrieve this object from their stores.

Museum.Manager@meaa.org.uk

http://collections.meaa.org.uk/quick-search?q=Filigree&WINID=1696258373947

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A Pair of Chinese Silver Gilt Filigree Caskets.

Wooley and Wallis.

Described in the Catalogue as Imperial.

12 cms diam.

Lot 435, 24 March 2023

https://www.woolleyandwallis.co.uk/departments/asian-art/aa230523/view-lot/435/

Catalogue description -

A PAIR OF RARE CHINESE IMPERIAL SILVER GILT FILIGREE ‘DRAGON’ MALLOW-FORM BOXES AND COVERSQIANLONG 1736-95The covers exquisitely decorated with pairs of sinuous dragons contesting flaming pearls of virtue within circular borders, surrounded by bands of miscellaneous treasures, each within a cartouche, the sloping sides of the covers with floral sprays, all set against a dense openwork scroll ground of fine silver filigree, and further scrollwork to the vertical sides and to the underside of the bases, each raised on a splayed foot, 544g, 12cm. (4)Provenance: an English private collection, Surrey, UK; sold on behalf of Parkinson's UK.

A near identical, but larger example in the Palace Museum, Beijing, is illustrated in Beijing Wenwu Jingpin, no.157.

Another example from the Qing Court collection is exhibited in A Garland of Treasures, Masterpieces of Precious Crafts in the Museum Collection, National Palace Museum, Taipei, 2014, cat.no. II-68.

See also Christie’s, Hong Kong, 30th November 2011, lot 3092, for another box of this design

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Mallow Form Box and Cover.

Quienlung Period (1736 - 95).

Sold Christies Hong Kong - Lot 3092, 30 Nov. 2011

https://www.christies.com/en/lot/lot-5495486

Catalogue Description.

An identical example of this size is in the Palace Museum, Beijing, and is illustrated in Beijing Wenwu Jingpin, Beijing, 2008, no. 157 (see fig. 1).

A related Qing dynasty enamel-embellished silver box with the sides divided into eight cartouches also in the Beijing Palace Museum Collection is illustrated in Zhongguo Meishu Quanji, vol. 10, Wenwu Chubanshe, Beijing, 1987, no. 193; where a silver filigree lobed form vase is also illustrated, no. 191.